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We welded up some holes in the inner fenders that would not be used.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n...-28-15_644.JPG The trunk floor had some minor corrosion, surface roughness, and pinholes from rust, but it wasn’t bad enough to warrant a complete replacement. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...-28-15_651.JPG The fix would be to replace the center of the trunk floor with a new section from YearOne. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...-28-15_650.JPG Adam used a cut-off wheel to cut out the section we wanted to replace. At this point, he left the trunk floor support braces in place. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...-29-15_652.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...-29-15_653.JPG |
Always amazing what you find lurking beneath the paint on an otherwise nice looking car! You guys are doing a good job of making it solid again.
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Subscribed and love the 1st post telling the history of the car and I'm looking forward to watching the rest of this build.
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The old floor piece came out in one large section.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...-29-15_655.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...-29-15_656.JPG The new YearOne center trunk floor section is a very faithful reproduction on the original floor. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...-29-15_657.JPG Adam chose to remove the trunk floor supports at this point, and transfer them to the new YearOne floor section outside the car. This would be a quicker approach than having to weld them in under the car. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...-29-15_658.JPG Then, the new YearOne panel was trimmed to match the size of the hole left in the car. Adam installed the long arms on the HTP spot welder, cleaned the e-coat, sprayed the bare steel with HTP Weld Through Primer, and positioned the original trunk floor supports on the new panel. Then he spot welded the panels together, leaving a factory original appearing weld process. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...-29-15_660.JPG |
The new section was then positioned in the car and held in place with some Eastwood panel clamps to keep it flush. The panel was welded in with a long series of MIG tack welds, and the welds were then ground smooth. The result is a virtually undetectable repair.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...-29-15_661.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...-29-15_662.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...-29-15_663.JPG This photo is from a little later when we were prepping the bottom of the car for epoxy and coating, but you can see the bottom of the floor job clearly. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...21-15_0041.JPG |
Excellent work.
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The COMP Camaro is rolled into the paint booth where the body shell is cleaned and Axalta epoxy primer is applied over the areas of the car where new metal was installed. This will provide corrosion resistance as well as to be a strong foundation for future topcoats or body filler.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...-11-15_665.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...-11-15_667.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...-11-15_669.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...-11-15_672.JPG |
Back in the bodyshop, the COMP Camaro’s body is ready for bodywork. After the panel gaps were set, Craig cut down the top layers of paint with the intention of not entirely stripping the car. This is done for several reasons… the existing paint was not terribly old or abused, and did not demonstrate any adhesion problems. Also, the deadline and overall project budget dictate expedience and efficiency in this area. So from this point forward, the body shell is treated like a high-quality repaint.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O...-12-15_674.JPG The substrate was sanded smooth, with dings & dents removed with hammers & dolleys, and then a skim coat of Evercoat filler was applied where needed. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...-13-15_679.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...-13-15_680.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...-30-15_001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...-30-15_002.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...-30-15_004.JPG |
Once the car was straightened, it went back into the paint booth for some epoxy over “sand throughs” and then several coats of high-build primer.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...04-15_0009.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...04-15_0011.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...04-15_0012.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...04-15_0015.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...04-15_0017.JPG |
Jeff applies Epoxy to the bare steel areas.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...04-15_0019.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...04-15_0021.JPG Soon, the car is again one color after being sprayed with Axalta high-solids primer. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...04-15_0022.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...04-15_0023.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...04-15_0024.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...04-15_0025.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...04-15_0026.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...04-15_0028.JPG |
Back in the body shop, we test fit some new YearOne trim parts.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...08-15_0023.JPG The side mirror mount for proper fit. This car will be wearing a new set of bullet style 2nd generation Camaro side mirrors. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...08-15_0021.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...08-15_0022.JPG The new trim from YearOne was tested again to make sure the wheel arch mouldings fit correctly, and the new RS grille surround and headlights were also test fitted. This needs to happen in this stage of the game… you don’t want to learn that a piece doesn’t fit after the car has been painted. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...09-15_0025.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...09-15_0024.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...09-15_0029.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...09-15_0026.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...09-15_0027.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...09-15_0028.JPG This car was originally an RS nose car, so any parts that could be restored were refurbished, with new YearOne parts installed where needed. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...15-15_0007.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...15-15_0009.JPG |
Craig begins to block sand the black guide coat to make sure the Camaro’s panels are nice and flat. The guide coat helps to reveal low and high spots while sanding the Axalta primer, and it also lets him know where he’s already sanded.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...14-15_0001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...15-15_0006.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...17-15_0002.JPG The front sheetmetal was removed to sand the panel edges and the firewall and cowl areas. Note the mock-up engine in place to keep some weight on the chassis to ensure the gaps remained consistent. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...17-15_0003.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2...17-15_0004.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...17-15_0005.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5...17-15_0009.JPG Details… https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...17-15_0013.JPG Soon, the Camaro body tub was removed from the subframe for final underside detailing and so that the Heidt’s subframe could be prepped and painted. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...17-15_0027.JPG |
Such great work from you guys
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Trevor and Tyler remove the Heidt’s rear suspension members and the Currie rear axle housing in preparation for mounting the body tub on the rotisserie.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...17-15_0016.JPG The body bolts were pulled, and one subframe removed. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...17-15_0018.JPG The TCI 6X transmission provides 1-5 forward gears shifted automatically, and will handle the power of the LS-based 600+ engine. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...17-15_0021.JPG There is some clean-up grinding, epoxy, and undercoating to do to the bottom side of the car. The firewall shows some “resizing” from the first restoration, our new transmission tunnel is the bare steel. The hole will be cut for the shifter later. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...17-15_0019.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...17-15_0026.JPG |
Door reinforcement bars keep the body from twisting on the rotisserie.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...18-15_0028.JPG Bolted to the spinner and ready to go! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t...18-15_0031.JPG The suspension parts and core support will be media blasted and painted to look new again. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...21-15_0032.JPG The Heidt’s subframe is essentially new, having never been painted or driven. However, it’s not “calendar” new. We’ll blast and paint it with Axalta epoxy and Imron as well. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...21-15_0035.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...21-15_0036.JPG |
It looks good Kevin, nice work.
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Excellent. :)
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The bottom of the car is easier to access with the body of the Camaro on the rotisserie, so final grinding and detail work was done in this position. The transmission tunnel and floor repairs were dressed from the bottom.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...21-15_0037.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...21-15_0038.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...21-15_0040.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...21-15_0041.JPG We took the opportunity to strengthen the frame rails where the Heidt’s rear 4-link bars connect to prevent the rails from being crushed by the mounting bolts. This was done by making a set of plates shaped to conform to the rails, then drilling mount holes and welding them in place with the HTP MIG 200 welder. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...21-15_0042.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...21-15_0051.JPG |
The bright spots on the floor supports indicate where minor rust repairs were made.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...21-15_0046.JPG In the paint shop, numerous parts were prepared and painted. The process can include media blasting or chemical cleaning, a hand sanding or Scotchbrite rub, then various wax & grease removers to clean the parts before they are masked and hung in the paint booth. FBS Distributors sprayers are helpful to rinse parts down, and tape labels an tags are often used to ID the parts. It’s a long process, but the results deliver great coverage and adhesion. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...22-15_0054.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O...22-15_0055.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...22-15_0056.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...22-15_0058.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5...23-15_0064.JPG The Heidt’s subframe was meticulously sanded, cleaned, and hung in the booth for Axalta epoxy and satin black Imron paint. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...23-15_0063.JPG The completed subframe looks pretty sharp! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...24-15_0067.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...24-15_0069.JPG |
The next phase was to prep the bottom of the body shell for paint. Again, the entire tub was sanded and cleaned, then masked and cleaned with wax & grease remover before receiving Axalta epoxy primer. If this was to be a “show” car, the bottom side would have been media blasted, but COMP wanted a driver and did not put a high priority on underside detail.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...24-15_0065.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...28-15_0073.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...29-15_0084.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...29-15_0086.JPG The inside of the tub was cleaned and prepped as well. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...30-15_0001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...04-16_0001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...04-16_0002.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...04-16_0005.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...04-16_0006.JPG |
First epoxy prime coat applied:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...04-16_0010.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...04-16_0012.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...04-16_0015.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...04-16_0017.JPG After the prime coat was applied, the underside was scuffed and 3M seam sealer was applied to all the areas where metal seams could hold moisture and potentially rust or corrode. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...05-16_0025.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...05-16_0026.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...06-16_0030.JPG |
Inside the trunk, where the 3M Body Defender coating has been applied. This coating will allow the trunk to be used without worry of scratching.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...06-16_0028.JPG The 3M coating was also applied to the entire bottom side of the body shell to prevent rock chips, reduce noise, and protect the tub. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...06-16_0033.JPG The subframe is carefully rejoined with the body, and the freshly painted suspension parts are reinstalled. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...06-16_0036.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...06-16_0038.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...06-16_0039.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...06-16_0048.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...06-16_0050.JPG |
It's coming along nice Kevin.
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The paint booth was again loaded with parts for “blackening”.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...06-16_0052.JPG Currie Engineering aluminum 9+ center section https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...06-16_0054.JPG Stripped and cleaned Currie 9+ axle housing with Heidt’s brackets installed https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...06-16_0055.JPG Modified stock appearing EFI fuel tank https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...06-16_0056.JPG “Cocktail Shakers” - factory GM oil-filled chassis vibration dampers found in convertibles https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...06-16_0061.JPG After a long day in the paint booth! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...07-16_0088.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...07-16_0089.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_...07-16_0090.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...07-16_0091.JPG |
Tilt column
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...07-16_0092.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...07-16_0094.JPG Heidt’s 4-link rear suspension final installation. Note the 3M coating on the bottom of the car. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...07-16_0098.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K...07-16_0100.JPG Steering installation https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n...07-16_0105.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...07-16_0110.JPG Front sway bar installed https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2...07-16_0124.JPG Emergency brake and axles installed https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...08-16_0001.JPG |
Soon, the car is a roller again and it heads back to the body shop for final bodywork and priming.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...13-16_0004.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...08-16_0010.JPG The removable panels, hood, decklid, fenders, doors, valances, etc., are cleaned and hung in the booth for final priming. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...11-16_0012.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...11-16_0018.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...11-16_0021.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...11-16_0022.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3...11-16_0028.JPG |
Nice work guys, it's looking good.
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This is turning out very well. :)
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Inside the body shell, the crew installed the mounting bracket for the Vintage Air Gen 4 air conditioning system. Although the Vintage Air kit comes with screw-in hangers, we find that welding the brackets to the inside of the car allows us to tuck it up as high as we can and make for a cleaner installation.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...11-16_0030.JPG No that the exterior panels have all been bodyworked and are straight, the body shop crew turns to detail items like the dashboard, firewall, door jambs, and cowl areas. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...12-16_0001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...13-16_0002.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...13-16_0004.JPG |
The backsides of panels are stripped and sanded in preparation for a black Axalta epoxy primer and Imron topcoat.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...15-16_0006.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...15-16_0007.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...15-16_0008.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...15-16_0009.JPG The outside panels were all sanded to a 180 grit surface. The body tub was then rolled back into the paint booth and masked for another coat of high build primer. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...18-16_0001.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...18-16_0004.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...19-16_0006.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...19-16_0007.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...19-16_0008.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...19-16_0009.JPG |
The crew left the dashboard and firewall exposed to receive primer for sanding, and anywhere the crew sanded through the primer to bare steel, another epoxy coat was applied for corrosion protection.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...19-16_0011.JPG After the epoxy had cured, a fresh coat of Axalta high build primer was applied. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...19-16_0017.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...19-16_0020.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...20-16_0021.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...20-16_0023.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...20-16_0024.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...20-16_0026.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...20-16_0028.JPG Once the primer dried, a layer of guide coat was applied to all the exterior surfaces to make the next rounds of block sanding easier and more effective. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...20-16_0029.JPG |
The door jams, dashboard, and firewall were all treated to the guide coat.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...20-16_0032.JPG Here, the guide coat is being sanded off in a wetsanding operation. The guide coat makes it easy to reveal high and low spots, and also lets the technician know what areas have been sanded. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...20-16_0034.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...20-16_0035.JPG |
Once the primer is wet sanded to perfection, the firewall, dash, and masked areas are sprayed with satin black Imron. The backsides of the fenders were also sprayed at this point.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...24-16_0006.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...24-16_0007.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...24-16_0008.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...24-16_0009.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...24-16_0011.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...24-16_0004.JPG |
The exterior panels and body shell were sprayed with a guide coat in preparation for more wet sanding.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...27-16_0017.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...27-16_0018.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...27-16_0019.JPG At this point, the convertible top mechanism was cleaned, prepped, and painted with Imron Satin black. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...28-16_0003.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...28-16_0006.JPG The body shell and all the exterior panels were then wet sanded smooth with 400 grit 3M paper. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...01-16_0003.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...01-16_0005.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...01-16_0008.JPG |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...01-16_0010.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...01-16_0011.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...02-16_0013.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...03-16_0001.JPG The bottom of the hood and decklid were sanded and prepped, and 3M seam sealer was applied before a final sealer and then basecoat color! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...05-16_0003.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...05-16_0004.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...05-16_0006.JPG |
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